Kanawa Educational Foundation for the Disabled, through Sightsavers Inclusion Works Project has called on the state and federal governemnts to create platforms and infrastructure that will put an end to segregation, discrimination, and non-inclusivity experienced by persons living with disabilities (PWDs).
Chairman of the foundation, Ibrahim Garba Madu made this call at the celebration of this year’s International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD), organized by the foundation in Kano.
Ibrahim Garba expressed some of the challenges they face as PWDs living in Kano to including lack of access to public offices.
He also called on the private and public sectors to promote access and equal participation of persons with disabilities in the workplace and life in general.
“A lot of people living with disability are educated; unfortunately, people do not take people living with disability as human beings believing that their life revolves round begging for alms”.
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“Full participation of this vulnerable group in societal affairs would be enhanced by creating an accessible environment and structures such as sign language interpreters, ramps, braille signage, lifts, Digital accessibility tools, e-braille and so on,”.
“People living with disability constitute about 20% of Nigeria’s population and I am of the opinion that we have the right to via for any and every position with political or government just like every normal human being”.
“People living with disability should be encouraged rather than discouraged because if they are not encouraged, they will likely end up on the streets as beggars who will in the long run become a liability to society,” He said.
He said this year’s commemoration of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities raised awareness about the challenges faced by the category of people.
The chairman further revealed that the Kanawa Foundation supports people with special needs in various areas, including enrolling them in school, paying their medical bills, and other essential needs.
December 3rd marks the annual International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD), which brings attention to the inequalities persons who experience a disability face. This year the theme is ‘Leadership and participation of persons with disabilities toward an inclusive, accessible, and sustainable post-COVID-19 world’.
